Verbena plant named ‘Dovesuvio’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Dovesuvio’, characterized by its semi-trailing and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; and large dark violet-colored flower that are held above and beyond the foliar plane in mounded umbels.

Botanical designation: Verbena X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOVESUVIO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dovesuvio’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous and early-flowering Verbenaplants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2014 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selectionof Verbena X hybrida identified as code number VV12-003831-005, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofVerbena X hybrida identified as code number VV-0337, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Verbenaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dovesuvio’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dovesuvio’ as a new and distinct Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Semi-trailing and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large dark violet-colored flowers; flowers held above and        beyond the foliar plane in mounded umbels.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena flower earlier than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have light purple and white bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘Lan Bule’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,604. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Lan Bule’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Lan Bule’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have longer leaves than plants of        ‘Lan Bule’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Lan Bule’.    -   4. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘Lan Bule’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Lan Bule’ have dark purple violet-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Verbena plant. The photograph is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Dovesuvio’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 22-cm containers during the springand summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and undercultural practices typical of commercial Verbena production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting and were ten weeks old when the photograph and thedescription were taken. In the description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena X hybrida ‘Dovesuvio’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena X            hybrida identified as code number VV12-003831-005, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena X            hybrida identified as code number VV-0337, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Semi-trailing and mounding plant habit; freely            branching habit with about six to seven primary lateral            branches each with about eight to ten secondary lateral            branches; pinching enhances lateral branch development;            dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 27            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 29            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 82 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 40 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A; at the internodes, close            to 146B.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 146B; at the internodes, close to            146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Lobed.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent, coarse;            semi-glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent, coarse; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137C; venation, close to 139D. Developing and            fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to 139D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in            hemispherical terminal umbels; umbels dense and mounding;            numerous umbels per plant; flowers face upward or outwardly            depending on position in the umbel; freely flowering habit            with about 8 to 13 flowers per inflorescence and about 250            to 300 flowers developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            the spring through the fall in Northern Europe; plants begin            flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Oval to tubular. Texture and luster: Rippled; matte.            Color: Close to 145A and N81D.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform, five-parted fused corolla.            Diameter: About 1.9 cm. Depth: About 2.5 cm. Throat            diameter: About 2 mm. Tube length: About 2.1 cm. Tube            diameter: About 1.2 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals.            Petal lobe length: About 1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 9 mm.            Petal lobe shape: Obovate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate.            Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when opening,            upper surface: Close to 83A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower            surface: Close to 79C. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 83B; venation, close to 83B; color does            not change with development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower            surface: Close to N82C; venation, close to N82C; color does            not change development. Throat: Close to 155C; venation,            close to 155C. Tube: Close to 155C; venation, close to 155C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five fused            sepals. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Sepal            length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape:            Ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture and luster, upper surface: Pubescent, coarse;            semi-glossy. Sepal texture and luster, lower surface:            Pubescent, coarse; matte. Sepal color, when developing,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B. Sepal color, fully            developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and            luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 0.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            About four per flower, adnate to corolla tube. Filament            length: About 0.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther            length: About 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color:            Close to 150A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close            to 2D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:            About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.9 cm. Style color: Close            to 142A. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Bi-parted; fimbriate. Stigma color: Close to 147C. Ovary            color: Close to 144A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant:            About 500 to 600 during the flowering season. Length: About            5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Rough. Color: Close to            199C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About four. Length: About            4.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 199B.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 11° C. to about 25° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Verbena    plants to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘Dovesuvio’ asillustrated and described.